Container nailing machine



NOV. 8, 1955 I J M SCHMlED 2,722,684

CONTAINER NAILING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

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CONTAINER NAILING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 21, 1954 lL J| 1| m L M mm M m jk V: .m m5 $7 M W W Nov. 8, 1955 J. M. SCHMIED CONTAINER NAILING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 21, 1954 DEA 715.

United States Patent CONTAINER NAILING MACHINE Joseph M'. Schmied, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Dura- Crates, Iuc., Indianapolis, Ind.,.a.corporation Application June 21, 1954, Serial No. 438,094

7 Claims. (Cl. 1-102) This invention relates generally to container nailing machines, and more particularly it relates to a container nailing machine and system adapted to cooperate with a conveyor system for automatically stopping the conveyor system and nailing one cleat after another to a container.

Conventional nailing machines usually comprise some sort of a crosshead adapted to support a nail feeding and driving mechanism operable from a power source to drive one nail after another under the manual control of an operator. In order to nail a number of cleats to a single container, the operator manipulates the container into one position after another to place one cleat after another in position for nailing and at the same time controls the nailer to nail a given cleat.

Conventional nailing mechanisms such as those used in the nailing machines described above are operated to apply a given maximum force to a nail during the entire driving operation. In other words, a hammer blow is applied to the nail in much the same fashion as occurs in manual driving of nails except that one blow serves to drive a nail. Because of the heavy impact and substantially instantaneous application of force to the nail, it frequently happens that the wood splits. This is particularly true of relatively thin pieces of certain hardwoods.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a container nailing system adapted automatically to nail cleats to all four sides of a container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container nailing machine having automatically operated conveyor means and control means for moving a cleated container from one position to another, asdetermined by the individual cleats, and means for nailing each cleat to the container as it moves into its nailing position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a con tainer nailing machine having adjustable nailing apparatus whereby the nailing apparatus may adjust itself within limits to drive nails in differently positioned cleats.

Still another object of thisinvention is toprovide a container nailing machine adapted to nail cleats on two opposite sides of the container, to turn the container, and thereafter to nail cleats to the remaining two opposing sides of a container.

A further object of thisinvention is to provide a container nailing machine having a conveyor for moving a container into nailing position and a control mechanism responsive to each cleat on the container for stopping the conveyor with the cleat in nailing position.

A still further object. of this invention is-to provide in a container nailing machine a nail driving mechanism adapted. to push a nailWith-increasing force as the degree of penetration into the woodincreases;

A still further object of this invention'is-to provide in a container nailing machine a nail driving mechanism adapted to push nails, as contrasted with the application of impactive force thereto.

Inaccordance with thisinvention there is provided a container nailing; machine. comprising afirst nailing unit adapted: to. nail. cleats; to: two-opposingsides of a. con- 2,722,684 Patented Nov. 8, 1955 2. tainer, a second nailing unit-adaptedto apply nails to the cleatsonthe two remaining opposite sides thereof, and aconveyor system adapted to feed acontainer to the first nailing unit, to remove said container from the-first nailingunit and turn it through an angle of and to-feed said container to said second nailing unit.

In accordance with another feature of this invention there is provided a container nailing machine comprising nail driving apparatus adapted to push nails intocleats on opposed sides of a container, a conveyor for moving said container into nailing position, and control mechanism adapted to sense each cleat on-said-container and to control the movement of said conveyor to present one cleat after another to the-nailing apparatus for nailing of the cleat to the container;

In accordance withstill another feature of this invention there is provided a container nailin'g'mechanism comprising a frame, opposed nailing mechanismssupported on said frame, means for mounting said nailing mechanisms on said frame in free play relation thereto to permit self-adjustment of said nailing mechanism with respect to a cheat to be nailed to a container, and means to apply power to said nail driving mechanism mounted on said frame.

In accordance with still another feature of thisinvention there is provided a-- container nailing mechanism comprising a frame, a nail driving mechanism mounted on said'frame and including a-push rod for applying force to a nail, a hydraulicv cylinder and piston assembly mounted. on said frame, and'a toggle connectionbetween said piston and said push rod for applying energy to said push rod in direct proportion to the degree of penetration of anail into a cleat on a container.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following deseription'and claims:

Fig. l is a top plan viewof adouble unit container nailing mechanism and a circuit diagram illustrating the control circuit therefor.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the nailing units illustrated in Fig; 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3'3- ofFig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view taken on line 44 of Fi'g. 2 and illustrating one of the nail. driving heads of'the nail driving unit shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a partial cross section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and illustrating a'container or cleat sensing mech* anism.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a container nailing mechanism consisting of a first nailing unit 10 having an intermittently running conveyor 11 for moving a pro-assembled container 12 into. the nailing unit 10 for nailing of'the cleats 14 to the top and bottom panels of the container or to the sidewalls of the container, depending upon the type of container being nailed. The container nailing mechanism also includes-a continuously running conveyor 15 over the belt of which is supported a container turning stop member 16, whereby movement of a container on the belt causes one corner thereof to stop While the belt rotates the container through an angle of 90 into such a position that the cleats on two remaining sides of the container may be nailed.

For nailing these cleats there is provided a second nailing unit 18 having an intermittently running conveyor 19 adapted to movethe container into a second nailing position.

The conveyor 11 may be driven by a motor 21 through a reduction gear 22 and a chain drive 23. or its equivalent. Conveyor 15 may be driven by conventional driving means, details of Which'are not shown. because this conveyor runs constantly to turn containers as they are receivedv from conveyor'll; Conveyor lfi 'mayvbe driven by a motor 24 through reduction gear 25 and a chain drive 26 or other equivalent mechanism. For controlling the intermittent operation of conveyors 11 and 19 there is provided a control circuit which consists of a source of electrical power 28, cleat sensing switches 29 and 30 on nailing units and 18, timing relays 32, 33 on nailing units 10 and 18, respectively, and valve operating solenoids 34, 35 on nailing units 10 and 18, respectively.

The contacts of timing switches 32 and 33 are normally closed to energize conveyor motors 21 and 24, thereby to move containers into position for nailing of one cleat after another, the switches 29 and 30 closing in response to movement of each cleat into position for nailing. The timing relays 32 and 33 function to open the circuits of motors 21 and 24 for a predetermined time period after switches 29 and 30 are closed. This time period provides for operation of valve operating solenoids 34 and 35 which control the nail driving heads to drive nails immediately after each cleat reaches its nail driving position, as will be described subsequently. Thus, the switches 29 and 30 act to stop the conveyors while a nailing operation is carried out and the timing relays 32 and 33 function to re-start the conveyors as soon as a nailing operation is completed, thereby to open switches 29 and 30 and to start conveyors 11 and 19 and move the containers into such a position that the next cleat thereon may re-close switches 29 and 30 to permit a subsequent nailing operation.

The nailing units 10 and 18 are identical in construc tion and, therefore, unit 10 will be described in detail. This unit comprises a frame having adjacent pairs of side frame or posts 40, 41, 42 and 43 (Figs. 1, 2). Between posts 40 and 41 there is supported a crate clamping and nailing mechanism 45, and between posts 42 and 43 there is supported a similar crate clamping and nailing mechanism 46. Mechanisms 45 and 46 support nail driving assemblies 47, 48, 49 and 50, respectively.

These assemblies being similar in all respects, assembly 45 will be described in detail, and the corresponding parts in assembly 46 will be given identical reference numerals. Assembly 45 is supported on a pair of parallel transverse bars 52, 53 mounted between side frames 40 and 41 in enlarged bosses 55, 56 of frames 40 and 41, respectively. A pair of yoke hangers 57 and 58 are clamped to bars 52 and 53, respectively, for rotation in unison thereon. Yokes 57 and 58 are pivotally connected to a casting having a horizontal member 59 and a vertical member 60 which comprises a pair of parallel sleeve members adapted to support a pair of vertical posts 62 and 63 (Fig. 2). These posts carry at their upper ends the nailing mechanism 47 and at their lower ends the nailing mechanism 48, both of which are disposed horizontally for driving nails into the cleats 14 of a container 12 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Posts 62, 63 also carry at their upper ends a pair of container guides or knobs 67 and at their lower ends a pair of container guides or knobs 68, which are adapted to slip over the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the container to hold it firmly in nailing position with the ends of the cleats in proper vertical alignment for nailing.

Each of the assemblies 45 and 46 is adjustable inwardly and outwardly with respect to the container, swinging on the hanger yokes 57 and 58, thereby to grip the container after it is in position for nailing. Yokes 57 and 58 are swung inwardly and outwardly about shafts 52 and 53 by means of a crank 70 clamped on shaft 53 and connected to an operating rod 71. Rod 71 is in turn connected to a bell crank 72 clamped on a rotatable shaft 73 extending between side frames 40 and 41. Shaft 73 is rotatably mounted in the side frames and carries crank 74 fixed thereon and connected to rod 75, which is pivotally connected to a crosshead 76a mounted on the free end of piston rod 76 of hydraulic cylinder 77. When the piston 76 moves upwardly and downwardly, the connecting mechanism just described serves to swing the yokes 57 and 58 outwardly and inwardly, whereby the clamping assembly 45 moves outwardly and inwardly with respect to the crate.

Fiston 76 is connected to the other clamping assembly 46 by means of crosshead 76a and a rod 78, whereby the yokes 57 and 58 thereof have the same and simultaneous outward and inward motion as piston 76 moves upwardly and downwardly.

The nail driving heads 47, 48, 49 and 50 are driven by means of a mechanism consisting of bell cranks 80 and 81 pivotally mounted on transverse angle iron members 82 and 83 welded or otherwise fastened between the side frame members 40 and 41. Bell cranks 80 and 81 are connected together for motion in unison by means of a link 84 and are driven by a rod 86 connected to crank 87 fixed to transverse shaft 88 rotatably mounted in frames 40 and 41. Shaft 88 is driven in turn by means of a crank 89 and a rod 90 connected to a crosshead 91 which in turn is connected to the piston of a hydraulic cylinder 92.

A corresponding linkage in the assembly 46 is connected to crosshead 91 by means of a rod 93. Rods 90 and 93, being connected in common to the piston of cylinder 92, have a toggle action whereby the downward motion of the piston imparts motion to the linkage at a decreasing rate but with increasing force as downward movement progresses. Thus, a nail being driven is driven relatively fast during its initial motion and progressively slower with increasing force as it penetrates the wood. This decreasing rate of motion and increasing force is calculated to provide the desired penetration by the nail without any splitting of the wood, regardless of its hardness.

Fig. 4 illustrates the essential parts of the nail driving assemblies 47, 48, 49 and 50. The body portion 65 includes a slot 66 for receiving nails, one after another, as will be described subsequently. The body portion 65 supports a pair of rods 94 on which is slidably supported a block 95. Nails are driven by means of a push rod 102 which projects within body portion 65 and is attached to block 95, whereby inward movement of the block causes the push rod 102 to drive a nail. The bell cranks, such as 80 and 81, operate block 95 through a connecting link as shown in Fig. 4. This structure is conventional and forms no part of this invention.

For feeding nails to the nail driving assemblies 47 and 48 there are provided conventional nail containers 96 and 97 pivotally mounted on chutes 98 and 99, respectively, which in turn are mounted on transverse angle iron members 100 and 101 extending between frame members 40 and 41. Chutes 98 and 99 are provided with tubular nail feeding members 103 and 104 which extend into position relative to slots 66 in body members 65 to drop nails horizontally thereto, one after the other, as the heads are operated. The tubular members 103 and 104 are spaced slightly with respect to heads 65 and 66 so that the relative motion of clamping assembly 45 with respect to members 103 and 104 does not in any way disturb the nail feeding operation.

For oscillating the nail containers 96 and 97 upwardly and downwardly, there is provided a tie rod 106 connecting containers 96 and 97, by means of spacer blocks 106a, 106b, and connected to an oscillatory wheel 107 by means of a connecting rod 108 pivotally connected to rod 106 and Wheel 107. Wheel 107 is rotatably mounted on shaft 110 mounted transversely of frames 40 and 41. For driving shaft 110 with oscillatory motion there is provided a gear 111 mounted thereon and driven by a rack 112, the central portion of which meshes with an oscillatory pinion 113 mounted on a shaft 114 which in turn is mounted in hanger bearings 115 mounted on platform or bridge 116 extending between frames 40 and 41. Platform 116 supports drive motor 117 connected to shaft 114 by means of a belt and pulley arrangement 118 driving a reduction gear mechanism 119, on the output shaft of which is a rotating wheel 120 driving a rack same 121 meshingwith gear 113", The wheel 120-irnpa-tts-up- Wardfand downwardmotion'to rack 1'21, thereby to-provide oscillatory. motion of gear 113 andrack 1122 In turn, oscillatory motion is'. transmitted through gear 111 to wheel 1'07- and the nailbins, 9'6' and 97 through connecting. linkage 108 and 106.

For controlling the clamping and nailing. apparatus there is provided a mechanism for sensingeach cleat on a crate (Fig. This mechanism comprises a plate or frame 125 fixed in any suitable manner to the vertical rods 62and 63 in any suitable position to'be adjacent the cleats of a container as itis moved on the conveyor 1 1 or the conveyor 19. At the corners of the plate 125 there are provided sprockets 126' mounted" on shafts 127, and on the sprockets there is provided a roller chain 128. A series of blocks or feelers 130' are attached to the chain 128. At any suitable point on the plate 125, preferably. at one end thereof, there is mounted a switch corresponding to switch 30 shown in Fig. 1 The switch is asingle throw, single pole switch having a. spring adapted to hold the switch in a normally open position. Blocks 130 are spaced with respect to one another so thatwhen one block is moved by a cleat on a container to that positi'on where the cleat is inalignment with the nailing heads 47, 48,49 and 50', the following block will have contacted and" closed the switch 30', thereby to stop the conveyor. motor with the container cleat in position for nailing The spacing of the blocks 130 equals that of thecleats 14. For tightening the chain 128 theresis provided a. lever 132 pivoted at 133 having an: idler sprocket 134 anda tension-spring 135,1 whereby the idler sprocket 134 is held in mesh. with: the chain to provide constant. tension. therein;

It may be assumed that. a pro-formed container may be placed on conveyor 11. By pre-formed it is meant that the container may comprise four connected walls of corrugated board folded to form a rectangular container 12 with cleats 14 glued thereto, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Furthermore, the end members comprising corrugated board and transverse cleats glued thereto will have been placed in position over the ends of the container. The purpose of the apparatus of this invention is to nail the side cleats to the ends of the cleats on the ends of the container.

Conveyor 11 is normally running due to the fact that the timing switch 32 has normally closed contacts in circuit with motor 21, whereby this motor is normally energized and running. As the container moves along into the nailing mechanism, the first cleat will engage one of the blocks 130 on the chain 128, pulling it forward to such a point that the next succeeding block operates switch 29 to close it. At this time the first cleat will be in alignment with the nailing assemblies 47 and 48, 49 and 50. When switch 29 closes, the timing switch 32 is energized, whereby its contacts are opened to stop motor 21 so that the first cleat stops in position to be nailed.

Simultaneously with closure of switch 29 valve operating solenoid 34 admits pressure to cylinders 77 and 92. Cylinder 77 may be relatively fast acting, whereby the clamping mechanisms 45 and 46 are both actuated by the two linkages consisting of yokes 57, 58, crank 70, connecting rod 71, crank 72, crank 74 and rods 75 and 78, thereby to move the clamping knobs or fingers 67 and 68 into firm engagement with the container to hold it in position for nailing.

Cylinder 92 is also energized to actuate nailing assemblies 47, 48, 49 and 50 through the linkages consisting of bell crank 81, tie rod 84, bell crank 80, connecting rod 86, crank 87, crank 89 and rods 90 and 93, whereby nails are pushed into the aligned cleats.

Timing switch 32 opens its contacts for a time period suificient to permit the complete operation of cylinders 77 and 92, whereby the container is clamped, the nails are driven and the container is released. The contacts of switch 32 are then operated. to. close and energizerrio'tor' 21. thereby to start conveyor 11. The container will be moved." and; therewith the block 130' on chain I28 Willfb'e moved which will result in opening, of switch .29". This action of switch 29" opens the'circuit of the timing switch with its contacts closed,v thereby to maintain the motor circuit closed. Motion of the conveyor continues until'such time as the next cleat on the container operates switch 29' to close it and initiate another clamping and nailing cycle. From the foregoing it willtbe apparent that the control circuit" functions in response to the sensing of the cleats by the blocks13'0 on a container regardless of their number. After all of the cleats on opposite sides. of the container have been hailed, conveyor 11' moves the container onto conveyor 15 where it engages the stop member 16 and is rotated through an angle of to present the other two sid'es for nailing.- Conveyor 19 then picks up the container from the conveyor 15, and the same operations are performediby nailing unit 18 to' complete the nailing of'each cleat on the remaining two sides of the container. Thus, one container after another mayv be fed to conveyor 11 and completely nailed by the two nailing units 10 and 18.

The invention claimed is:

1'. A container nailing system comprising spaced side frames, a feeder conveyor between said side framesand having a drive motor for feeding a container between said side frames, a hydraulically operated container nailer disposed on each side frame at each side of said conveyor and movable into engagement with the cleats on opposite sides of said container for the nailing, thereof, a cleat sensitive mechanism mounted on a side frame and including an endless chainmounted-for movement in a horizontal plane, a plurality of spaced stops on said chain having a spacing corresponding, to the spacing between cleats on a container, an electrical switch mounted'adjacent to the path of said stops for actuation thereby, and a switching circuit including said'stop operated switch electrically connected with said driving motor and having a timing means for stopping and starting said motor to establish a period within which said nailer may operate, said switching circuit including a solenoid operable to control said hydraulically operated nailer to drive nails into a cleat during said nailing period.

2. A container nailing system comprising spaced side frames, a feeder conveyor between said side frames and having a drive motor for feeding a container between said side frames, a container nailer disposed on each side frame at each side of said conveyor for the nailing thereof, a cleat sensitive mechanism mounted on a side frame and including an endless chain mounted for movement in a horizontal plane, a plurality of spaced stops on said chain having a spacing corresponding to the spacing between cleats on a container, an electrical switch mounted adjacent to the path of said stops for actuation thereby, and a switching circuit including said stop operated switch electrically connected with said driving motor for stopping said motor, said switching circuit including a solenoid operable to control said nailer to drive nails into a cleat during said nailing period.

3. A container nailing machine comprising spaced pairs of side frames, a bridge structure spanning the tops of said frames, a transverse shaft disposed horizontally of each pair of side frames, a sub frame pivotally mounted on each transverse shaft for movement inwardly of said side frames, nailing mechanism mounted at the upper and lower ends of said sub frame and including a reciprocable push rod adapted to drive nails, power driven actuating means mounted on said bridge structure centrally thereof between each pair of side frames, a toggle linkage connecting said power driven means to each transverse shaft for rotating it and moving said sub frames with respect thereto, a second toggle linkage connected between said power means and said push rods for moving them to drive nails, and a control mechanism including means in the way of a cleat on a container for sensing said cleat when it is in alignment with said push rods and for operating said power driven means to effect actuation of said transverse rod and said push rods.

4. A container nailing machine comprising spaced pairs of side frames, a bridge structure spanning the tops of said frames, a transverse shaft disposed horizontally of each pair of side frames, a sub frame pivotally mounted on each transverse shaft for movement inwardly of said side frames, nailing mechanism mounted at the upper and lower ends of said sub frame and including a reciprocable push rod adapted to drive nails, power driven actuating means mounted on said bridge structure centrally thereof between each pair of side frames, a toggle linkage connecting said power driven means to each transverse shaft for rotating it and moving said sub frames with respect thereto, a second toggle linkage connected between said power means and said push rods for moving them to drive nails, and a control mechanism for operating said power driven means to effect actuation of said transverse rod and said push rods.

5. A container nailing machine comprising spaced pairs of side frames, a bridge structure spanning the tops of said frames, a sub frame pivotally mounted on each pair of side frames for movement inwardly of said side frames, nailing mechanism mounted at the upper and lower ends of said sub frame and including a reciprocable push rod adapted to drive nails, power driven actuating means mounted on said bridge structure centrally thereof between each pair of side frames, a toggle linkage connecting said power driven means to each sub frame for moving said sub frames inwardly and outwardly of said side frames, a second toggle linkage connected between said power means and said push rods for moving them to drive nails, and a control mechanism for operating said power driven means to effect actuation of said sub frames and said push rods.

6. A container nailing machine comprising spaced pairs of side frames, a bridge structure spanning the tops of said frames, a sub frame pivotally mounted on each pair of side frames for movement inwardly of said side frames, nailing mechanism mounted on said sub frame and including a reciprocable push rod adapted to drive nails, power driven actuating means mounted on said bridge structure between each pair of side frames, a linkage connecting said power driven means to each sub frame for moving said sub frames inwardly and outwardly of said side frames, a second linkage connected between said power means and said push rods for moving them to drive nails, and a control mechanism for operating said power driven means to effect actuation of said sub frames and said push rods.

7. A container nailing machine comprising a pair of side frames, a sub frame pivotally mounted on said side frames for movement inwardly of said side frames, nailing mechanism mounted on said sub frame and including a reciprocable push rod adapted to drive nails, power driven actuating means mounted on said pair of side frames, a linkageconnecting said power driven means to said sub frame for moving said sub frame, and a second linkage connected between said power means and said push rods for moving them to drive nails.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 295,515 Barton Mar. 25, 1884 309,297 Foster Dec. 16, 1884 1,397,054 Riggs Nov. 15, 1921 1,496,316 Jackson June 3, 1924 2,486,893 Van Doren Nov. 1, 1949 

